Storm Unleashed: Phantom Islanders Part III

by Ednah Walters

  Completely unaware of the man watching her, Nerissa gave her crew instructions by the door, slapping some on the shoulders and trading laughs. Most had grabbed curtains and made makeshift sacks to carry their spoils. A few had used silk cords from the same drapes and looped them through the arms of gilded pitchers, tumblers, candelabra, and sconces ripped off the walls. One even wore a crown on his head and elaborate jewelry around his neck.

  “Conyn, do something,” Tully yelled, twisting his body as though to get out of his chair. “They are stealing everything, the filthy wretches.”

  “I tried outmaneuvering them, but the women are crafty and fast. Don’t let their smiles fool you. They took my weapons and had me tied up before I realized what they’d planned.”

  Lord Conyngham sounded thoroughly annoyed, so I wasn’t sure whether he was genuinely pissed off or faking it. He was good at deception. I wondered who’d decided to tie him up.

  “Then call the guards,” Tully ordered. Or tried to. He sounded drunk. He was probably delirious with pain, hunger, and dehydration.

  “I tried that, too, Prince Tully, but they knocked them out and tied them up.”

  “And your men? I saw the two from the tower skulking around, trying to mix with the pirates. Damn traitors. We should send them to the gallows after this.”

  “The Dragon got my men. I’m afraid it’s only you and me left in here, Tully. We’ll have to weather this out.”

  “You’ve become spineless, Conyn. I always envied your quick feet and swordsmanship. You should fight them with your bare hands and teeth ’til death,” Tully continued, his speech sounding more and more slurred. “I’m your prince. It’s your job to defend me with your life.”

  Now he wanted Lord Conyngham to save him when earlier he’d wanted to throw him in the dungeons. Selfish bastard. I wondered if he’d thought about his mother once since Storm had arrived.

  “Storm!” Tully yelled, finally noticing us. “My demented, thieving twin brother. I celebrated when I heard you died. And now you’re back from the dead to hound me again. Why do you always hound me? Tell your pirates to return my things.”

  Storm ignored him as we crossed to Nerissa. She waved her people to continue outside and didn’t ask where we’d gone.

  “We’re ready to go,” she said.

  Storm looked around. “Is the palace empty?”

  Nerissa nodded. “Including the stables. We sent the guests, the staff, and the prisoners home, except Ren and Lord Perfect over there”—she waved toward Lord Conyngham—“who refused to leave, so we tied him up. The wimp. He didn’t even put up a fight,” she added with a sneer. “Ren won’t give us a name unless we take him with us. Apparently, he’d rather face our wrath than the king’s.”

  “Where is he?”

  “Outside with Levi.”

  “Good.” Storm glanced at me. “Levi has a way of making people talk. Where’s my crew?”

  “Outside, waiting for you. We got word from Zale. The army is headed our way. Since the locals stole their horses, they’re on foot, but he and his team are waiting for us. They took care of the merchant ships, too.”

  The news didn’t appear to bother Storm, but I wondered how we’d escape.

  “The spoils?” he asked.

  “We only took what we could fit into two carriages. We got three chests of jewels instead of two. I couldn’t resist one with pearls. The two men you sent are driving the carriages, but I’m sending two of ours with them.”

  “Good. Take Kheelan and his team. Use the tunnels and head to the rendezvous point. The two men mentioned new ones. Let them lead, but watch your back.”

  “Can we trust them with that?”

  Storm glanced at me and smiled.

  “Yes. Lexi trusts them, so we should, too. May the gods guide you.”

  “Storm!” Tully’s voice intruded again. “Why won’t you answer me, you miserable pirate?”

  Storm sighed. “I need to shut him up.”

  “Or I could take him outside so Levi can play with him while you finish in here,” Nerissa said, turning to walk away. “Poor Levi has been brooding since he woke up, and being out of the water for too long is not helping. Barbecuing Tully might improve his disposition.”

  Storm frowned. “He chose to be at the palace over disabling their ships at the docks. He even said the fountain water would do.”

  “Ha!” Nerissa laughed. “I suggested he use the water fountain, and he gave me the finger. Ever seen a dragon give the finger? It’s funny, but I couldn’t laugh because he would have singed my clothes. Catch up with you two later.”

  Nerissa disappeared outside while Levi and I went to Tully and Lord Conyngham.

  “Tell them to return the pearls, Storm,” Tully whined. “They were a gift from the King of Lemuria. Part of a business deal.”

  “Then my people will appreciate your generous donation even more. Maidens, take Lord Conyngham outside and tie him next to the courtyard statue. He can keep Tully company while they watch the fireworks.”

  “What fireworks?” Tully asked, looking around with glazed eyes. “Are we celebrating something?” He peered at Storm. “You are going to kill me, aren’t you?”

  Storm untied Tully and yanked him to his feet without answering. He gripped his arm with one hand and carried the chair with the other. I followed the two shieldmaidens escorting Lord Conyngham outside, keeping an eye on him in case they got too rough. He was in such a precarious position as an ally. He couldn’t afford to have his cover blown, yet we couldn’t tell the others he was on our side. They’d treat him differently, and Tully would notice.

  “I want you to sit on your courtyard and watch your castle burn, brother, just like my people watched their homes burn,” Storm said.

  “It’s not my fault they live in shacks. Do you plan to use your stolen riches to build more shacks? Maybe one for your Tuh’ren mate?” Tully added.

  “No, I plan to build Mother a beautiful castle by the edge of a waterfall,” Storm said.

  “M-Mother?”

  “Yes, brother, and I use that word loosely because you’ve never been one. I know everything you did and didn’t do. How you kept Mother a prisoner in the tower. How she was doped by the oracle and you did nothing. How you and King Tullius blamed her for things she did while under the influence of whatever the oracle has been feeding her. I’m taking her with me.”

  “No!” Tully yelled and tried to body-slam Storm.

  Storm stepped out of the way, and Tully stumbled. Storm didn’t break his fall, but he grabbed the collar of his coat and hauled him to his feet once he landed face down on the ground. Tully swayed on his feet, and spittle flew from his mouth as he continued.

  “You can’t take her from me. She chose me, brother.”

  A brief surge of decades old pain resurfaced, and I felt the weight and the depth of it through our connection before Storm pushed it away.

  “That was then, brother,” he said with indifference I knew he didn’t feel.

  “You don’t get it. She’ll always choose me because she loves me more. Wait and see.”

  “Keep walking.” Storm pushed Tully through the door and into the night. Torches along the wall and the statue lit the courtyard, and the fog wasn’t as thick as it had been where we’d left the queen mother.

  “If she chooses you,” Tully continued, “it’s because you healed her and she feels beholden to you, but she’ll always love me more. I’m her favorite. That’s why she chose me and not you. If she hears I need her, she’ll find a way to come back to me.”

  Storm’s fist clenched. This time, I was sure he would slug Tully. He took a deep breath, released it, and relaxed his fingers.

  “Someone whose opinion matters to me told me to let go of the anger and allow love to guide me. That’s the only thing stopping me from ripping your tongue out, Tully. So if I were you, I’d tread carefully.”

  Tully laughed. “You haven’t changed, Storm. Just because you choose to play a he
ro doesn’t mean others will see you as one. Mother knows about all the terrible things you did at sea. She knows about your thieving, killing, and marauding ways, and she’s ashamed to call you her son. When we heard you’d died, she was relieved. ‘Good riddance to my monster of a son,’ she’d said.”

  “Liar,” I yelled, my anger boiling over. I grabbed Tully’s injured arm and twisted the knife.

  He laughed, his crazed eyes telling me he was beyond feeling pain.

  “You shut your trap, you lying sleaze ball,” I yelled in his face. “You don’t know what your mother went through because of you. She told me things about you that would shock you, and they had nothing to do with loving you, Tully, or being proud of you.”

  “Crazy Tuh’ren,” he said. “You and my monster brother deserve each other.”

  “You are the monster. That’s how she sees you. A monster created by your grandfather, the mad king, and his mistress. She regretted many things, leaving Storm behind, staying here with you, including the way you’ve turned out.”

  Tully laughed louder. “And you believed her? The woman is crazy.”

  “She’s not. Storm,” I said through tears, my eyes not leaving Tully’s spiteful face. “I’ve changed my mind. Don’t show him any mercy.” I shifted my focus, and our gazes met and locked. “I support you one hundred percent, mo ghrá. Carve him up and reduce the palace to a smoldering heap of rocks.”

  I walked away, tears blinding me. I didn’t stop walking until I bumped into something big and solid. I blinked to clear my eyes. It was a giant leg, scaly and long. I looked up, way up, and my gaze connected with that of a Dragon’s.

  This was the first time I was seeing Levi out of the water. I’d expected him to be like the Chinese dragons he’d fought and killed. He didn’t have the serpent-like body. He was more like my idea of a dragon, with a long tail and neck, wings, and four legs. His head was massive, his upper teeth jutting out from his mouth. The streaks of blue under his skin were no longer visible because he was out of water, but his skin had a bluish-gray hue. His wings were not as massive like Storms’, but then again, he was a swimmer, not a flyer. Or maybe I was just biased.

  Levi lowered his head.

  “You okay, lass?” he asked in a rumbling deep voice.

  I nodded and wiped the wetness from my cheeks.

  “I’m happy you made it, Levi,” I whispered. “I would not have forgiven myself if they’d killed you.”

  He chuckled. “It takes a lot to kill a Dragon, lass.”

  I threw my arms around his neck. His scales were smooth, and he gave off heat like Storm. He rested his head on my shoulder, offering me the much-needed comfort.

  Sighing, I leaned back and studied his face. His eyes were still the most intense blue I’d ever seen on a person or a creature, and I loved the mane running from his forehead, past his horns, and along his back to his tail.

  I touched one of the long whiskers from under his chin. They were soft and smooth like tentacles. He must have used one of them to grab me when I’d jumped into the water the first time we’d met. I kissed his scaly cheek and gave him a weak smile. Only then did I realize he wasn’t alone.

  About ten, maybe a dozen islanders were with him. Some, including the two girls who’d brought Lord Conyngham outside, were on horses. Or Kelpies. I couldn’t tell the difference.

  A scream from the courtyard statue drew everyone’s attention, and I turned to see Storm walk away from Tully and Lord Conyngham. He wiped the bloodied dagger on his pants and sheathed it on the belt on his waist.

  Tully had just lost a hand.

  Thunderbolts zigzagged from the sky and pelted the castle, shooting through the open entrance and the windows, the crack of breaking glass mixing with the sizzle of lightning. The front hall exploded, shards of glass flying everywhere.

  The scene was spectacular. And to complete it, Storm started to remove items of his clothing before he could shift. Frock coat. Vest. Shirt. Until all he had left were the breeches, the low-slung sword belt, and his boots.

  It was probably wrong to find the entire undressing with the palace exploding behind him sexy, but I did. And the look in his eyes when our eyes met said he felt my reaction. This connection between us was going to be very useful.

  He reached me, cupped the back of my head and celebrated his victory with a kiss so hot every bone in my body melted. When he eased off the kiss, he rested his forehead against mine and sighed as though a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulder. Relief drifted to my psyche. And mixed with it was satisfaction.

  He lifted his head and glanced at Levi.

  “How far are they?”

  Levi stretched his neck and looked over the wall. “Closing in quickly. We’ll cover the grounds if you’re taking to the skies.”

  “No, brother. We’re finishing this together here on the grounds.”

  Storm took his sword belt off and tied it around my waist, draped his shirt and vest on my arm, then finished undressing. He gave one of his crew his boots and breeches. He shifted, muscles and bones reforming as his body changed shape and size.

  “Up you go, love,” he said.

  I grabbed his mane and climbed onto his back. Storm and I led the way to the gate while Levi took the rear.

  I looked over my shoulders at the blazing palace. More bolts zipped through its windows, several of them concentrating on the tower, where Storm’s mother had been kept. Rocks flew from the battlement, and fire started inside the queen mother’s room.

  Now that was one place that deserved to be destroyed.

  CHAPTER 15

  We’d barely passed the gate when we were surrounded by the royal guards and army, their weapons drawn and torches in their hands. Fear, anger, and frustration poured from them. I studied their faces. Apart from a few older ones, the majority of them were young.

  One tall, powerfully built one stepped forward to our left, his gaze sweeping our group. They outnumbered us twenty-to-one. Maybe even more. More continued to arrive, their torches dimmer the farther they were from us because of the fog.

  “Whichever one of you is Prince Storm Orath, shift to your human form so we can negotiate the terms of your surrender.”

  Anger shot through Storm, but he still managed a chuckle. “Sorry, General Fearghas, but our business here is done. Move aside for me and my crew to pass.”

  The general looked at those behind him. “Did you hear anything, boys?”

  Uneasy snickers rippled through the gathered people. I realized something else. In the back in plain clothes were the regular islanders. They must have followed the men as they’d crossed the city from their headquarters.

  “I heard a nicker or bray. I’m sorry, but I don’t speak animal,” the general said. “I want to talk to my equal. A human. So if you mules can shift back, we can figure out which one of you is Prince Storm Orath, traitor to the crown, murderer of the innocent, pillager and plunderer of the king’s holdings. He is to hang first.”

  Storm had tensed, rage surging forth. I knew it wouldn’t be long before he summoned lightning and laid waste to these people. I could already see the number of the dead we would leave in our wake.

  I reached down and stroked his neck. “It’s okay. Let me take care of this. The islanders have been nice to me, and I don’t want them hurt.”

  Storm lifted his head, muscles straining, and glanced at his people. No one had moved. Swords of the riders were still sheathed. Even Levi hadn’t reacted, deferring to Storm to make the first move.

  Storm nodded. “Okay. Separate the innocent from these fools, and we’ll make these people dance.”

  “Did you say something?” General Fearghas asked.

  “Shhh, I’m thinking,” I said.

  A murmur rippled through the people.

  “A female pirate. How dare you speak to me?”

  “I dare, General Fearghas”—I really wanted to use a more insulting name, but the severity of the moment forced me to moderate my tongue—“
because the voices of too many people on this island have been silenced by bullies like you, King Tullius, and Prince Tully. I dare because I refuse to be one of them, so you will not bully me into silence.”

  “Look here, she’lahn—”

  “Shut up, General Fearghas,” I snapped. “I’m not done talking.”

  “How dare you talk to me like that,” he bellowed and looked at the people beside him for support, but they were staring at me like I’d grown horns, a low buzz in the air.

  “I dare, General Fearghas, because six nights ago your Captain Ren raided our island, killed our people, torched our ships and homes, kidnapped me, and brought me here to this island against my will so I can be used as a pawn in the mindless game the royal family plays with Storm and our people, a people who only want to be left alone.”

  Silence spread.

  “I dare because I was thrown in that tower”—I pointed at the now smoldering pillar—“and held prisoner and physically abused by Prince Tully. Ask anyone at the marketplace, and they’ll tell you about the bruises on my face.”

  A rumble vibrated through Storm, and he began to turn, but I reached down and stroked his muzzle. Love poured through our link, and my throat closed, tears rushing to my eyes.

  Silence filled the night, the stillness eerie. I blew out and blinked hard to stop the tears from falling. I also noticed something else. The fog was lifting.

  “I dare, General Fearghas”—I raised my voice so no one would miss my next words—“because while in that tower, I discovered the queen mother. Your beloved queen mother has been living in a cell up there for decades as a prisoner of the king and his mistress, the oracle. Not only have the people of Hy’Brasil been silenced, they are so paralyzed by fear that they cannot help someone who desperately needs it. The guards in the palace knew about the queen mother and did nothing. Not only did King Tullius and the oracle imprison her, the oracle poisoned her daily, so your beloved queen mother believed she was going crazy one moment and dying the next, until all she wanted to do when I met her was die in peace. Now, she’s fighting for her life as her frail body tries to get rid of the poison.”